More Than A Festival
Poet Life Fest, in partnership with Love Life Cafe, is a weeklong cultural experience where poetry, wellness, entrepreneurship, public health, creativity, and community collide to inspire meaningful connection and lasting impact.
Week of Events
MONDAY | GO-GO WORKOUTS
Kick off Poet Life Fest with movement, music, food, and pure DC energy. This opening night brings together live Go-Go, workouts, community, and celebration to set the tone for a powerful week of culture, connection, and creative freedom.
TUESDAY | LIVE KARAOKE NIGHT
Step up to the mic and let the room feel your voice. Live Karaoke Night is your chance to laugh, sing, vibe, and celebrate with poets, creatives, and friends in a high-energy atmosphere built for unforgettable memories.
WEDNESDAY | MASTERMIND
This intimate mastermind is for focused creatives who are ready to turn ideas, gifts, and experience into real opportunities. Join a room of builders, dreamers, and doers for strategy, conversation, and connection that can move your creative career forward.
THURSDAY - OPEN MIC
“Stories That Heal” is where testimony, poetry, and public health meet. This open mic creates space for honest expression, healing conversations, and powerful voices that remind us art can educate, restore, and move communities toward change.
FRIDAY | ALL WHITE EXPERIENCE
The All White Experience is the grown, stylish celebration of the week. Come dressed in white, step into the elegance, and enjoy a night of music, dancing, connection, and homecoming energy at The Strand DC.
SATURDAY | ALL DAY FESTIVAL
Saturday is the heart of Poet Life Fest — an all-day homecoming for poets, creatives, families, vendors, performers, and the community. From live poetry and music to food trucks, wellness, youth activities, public health activations, resources, awards, and the Big Old Kids Party, this is where adults get to feel like kids again while kids are welcome to join the fun.
SUNDAY | BRUNCH & DAY PARTY
Close out Poet Life Fest with brunch, music, dancing, and one last grown-and-fly celebration. The Brunch & Day Party is the perfect final vibe to reconnect, reflect, and celebrate the week before we say, “See you next year.”
Our Featured Artists
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@JENARI927
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@ITSOVALLE
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@THEREALBROTHEREARL
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@MISS.ZYAH
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@CASSANDRA_ISFREE
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@EBABYHAIKU
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@_BLU.REIGN_
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@RENEMANUELRAMOS
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@THEPOET.HAS.SPOKEN
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@THESIRHARVEYFITZ
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@SAVAGEWRITER973
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@A.M__AD
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@ADDYLUGODMV
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@KHALIL_HOUSTON
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@ESSENCE_OFPOETRY
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@BEEZYTHEPOET
Participate in the Festival
Do you know a poet, spoken word artist, storyteller, teaching artist, or creative voice who should be part of The Poet’s Homecoming? Nominate them for an opportunity to perform, represent a cause, and share their voice with the Poet Life Fest community.
Are you a poet who has written a poetry book and has merch to sell? We encourage you to become a poet vendor at the Poet Life Fest. Be expose to 3000 people in attendance and get a return on your investment.
Run to the Festival!
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Run to the Festival is a community run experience in partnership with The Run Network leading into Poet Life Fest 2026: The Poet’s Homecoming. It’s a fun way to move together, connect with community, and arrive at the festival with energy and purpose.
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The run will take place the day of the all-day festival on Saturday, July 25, 2026.
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Meetup time is 9:00 AM.
Run starts 9:30 PM.
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The meetup location is Navy Yard in Washington, DC. Final meetup details and exact gathering point will be shared with registered participants before the event.
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Participants will run toward Poet Life Fest at Gateway DC Pavilion, located at 2700 Martin Luther King Jr Ave SE, Washington, DC 20032.
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Yes. All participants should register by clicking “Register To Run” so we can communicate updates, route details, safety information, and arrival instructions.
Also, RSVP to the festival. -
No. This is a community-centered run experience. Runners of different levels are welcome. The goal is movement, connection, and celebration — not competition.
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Yes. Depending on the final route and group structure, walkers and run/walk participants are welcome. We want this to be accessible and community-friendly.
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Please bring water, comfortable running shoes, weather-appropriate clothing, and anything you may need for the festival afterward. We also recommend bringing ID, your phone, and a small personal bag if needed.
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Wear comfortable running gear. We also encourage runners to represent their run club, community, or Poet Life Fest colors. Black, gold, green, and creative festival energy are welcome.
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Absolutely. DMV run clubs are encouraged to join, bring their members, and tag their communities. This is a great opportunity to connect fitness, culture, creativity, and community.
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No. There is no fee to join the run. This is a free and fun run to the Poet Life Fest.
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After the run, participants can enjoy the main Saturday festival experience, including live performances, vendors, food, wellness activations, public health resources, the Homecoming Runway, poetry, and community celebration.
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Yes, portions of the run and festival arrival may be photographed or recorded for promotional, recap, and media purposes.
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The run is presented in partnership with The Run Network and Poet Life Fest.
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Register at PoetLifeFest.com and follow @PoetLifeFest for updates, announcements, and final instructions.
A Blast From The the Past
Washington, DC 2021
Atlanta, GA 2022
Poet Life Fest is back—and this time, it's bigger, bolder, and more intentional than ever. This isn’t just a return—it’s a resurrection of purpose, creativity, and power. In 2026, we’re reigniting the flame that started a movement—where poetry doesn’t just live on stages, but in business, in culture, and in community. Poet Life Fest is where artists become entrepreneurs, brands meet believers, and the power of words creates real-world impact. And this time, we’re doing something revolutionary: we’re building the festival with the people, not the corporations. We're putting small businesses, grassroots creators, and purpose-driven brands on the pedestal they deserve. Over the course of one unforgettable weekend—featuring an all-white party, an all-day festival, and a poetry-infused business brunch—we’re turning visibility into legacy. This isn’t just a festival. It’s a cultural landmark in the making. And if you’re reading this, you’re meant to be a part of it.
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